Water Basin of Vud’javr Lake

The Khibiny tundra can be conventionally divided into two halves - west and east if consider meridionally located Kunijok and Bolshaya Belaya (previously - Enemanjok) river valleys as well as pass Kukisvumchorr and Bolshoi Vud’javr. Basins of the Khibiny tundra include rivers that flow to Imandra lake and Umbozero lake. So, Kukisvum valley belongs to Imandra lake basin. It should be noted that water flow here is to and from.

On the way to the south from pass one can come across inflow of Vud’javrjok-Kukisjok river that by the way, joins Maly and Bolshoi Vud’javr. Rising from Bolshoi Vud’javr lake, it grows strength, breaks moraine located in the north of Bolshoi Vud’javr and then after a distance of 25 kilometers it flows into Imandra lake. Kunijok river can be met in the north of the pass. Wandering along the valley, at last it quiets down in waters of Imandra lake.

Larger rivers as Tul’jok with its inflow Kaskasnunjok and Maival’tajok also inflow into Umbozero. Besides, Vud’javrjok, Loparskaya river and Yuksporjok river also inflow into Bolshoi Vud’javr lake. Maly Vud’javr lake which one of the largest inflows is Poachjok is located to the north of Bolshoi Vud’javr. Malaya Belaya river runs into a lake. Water activities here are of great interest. It is amazing but there are more than 18 209 rivers and even more than 11 609 lakes in the Kola peninsula. Most of lakes located here, as a rule, have glacial origin. As for Imandra, lovozero and Umbozero lakes – it is of tectonic origin. All the lakes including Maly and Bolshoi Vud’javr are characterized by deep elongated hollow with non-regular (ragged) shore line.

As for rivers, it can be divided into 4 types: lowland rivers, river-canals, lake-type, mountain rivers.

River beds are presented by pebble, boulders and sands altogether. Huge boulders here and there can be a real obstacle turning to rapids and even waterfalls. Due to the fact the upper reaches of the river are located quite near to each other, it is easy and simple to travel all over the Kola Peninsula, just rafting one river or another.

In most cases travelers use inflatable boats or kayaks as float board can break, common boats are too massive to travel from one river basin to another one. The most favorable time to get acquainted with Kola peninsula afloat is the middle of summer - beginning of autumn.